The Narendra Modi Government on Friday clinched a historic international deal when India and Australia signed the long-pending civil nuclear agreement. The agreement, signed in the presence of Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Prime Minister Modi, will enable Australia to supply uranium for Indian nuclear reactors to meet the country’s energy requirements. Besides, three more agreements were also signed for Cooperation in Technical Vocational Education and Training, water resources management and sports.
Terming it a historic milestone in India’s relationship with Australia, Prime Minister Modi said the civil nuclear agreement would be of immense help for resource-constrained India and the pact would take bilateral ties between the two countries to new heights.
“The signing of the civil nuclear cooperation agreement is a historic milestone in our relationship. It is a reflection of a new level of trust and confidence in our relationship and will open a new chapter in our bilateral cooperation. It will support India’s efforts to fuel its growth with clean energy and minimize the carbon footprint of its growth. India is a resource-constrained country and can meet a considerable part of its requirements from Australia, a country blessed with abundant natural resources,” Modi said.
Abbott termed it a “remarkable day” in his life and said Australia trusts India to do the right thing in the area of nuclear energy. “I am happy to trust India on uranium,” Abbott said adding he was happy to help in meeting the energy demand of a 1.2 billion-strong India while reiterating his commitment for taking forward the strategic partnership with India.
This agreement will help Indian nuclear plants generate around 4,680 MW of electricity, of which 2,840 MW was from indigenous uranium while 1,840 MW was from imported fuel.
The agreement was finalized on Friday after five years of intense discussions between the two countries. Australia has agreed to supply uranium to India despite India not being a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. However, the Australian PM said he trusted Indian safeguards. India has assured Australia that that uranium supplied by it would neither be used directly for nuclear weapons or to quarantine Indian domestic supplies of uranium for nuclear weapons. “India has an absolutely impeccable non-proliferation record and India has been a model international citizen,” Abbott said.
The agreement aims at promoting cooperation in the field peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and recognises India’s commitment to use of nuclear energy with a view to achieving sustainable development and strengthening energy security. “Australia can play the role of a long-term reliable supplier of uranium to India. It provides for supply of uranium, production of radio isotopes, nuclear safety and other areas of cooperation,” says the agreement.
The two PMs have directed the negotiators to conclude the administrative arrangements pertaining to the civil nuclear agreement at the earliest. Officials of the Ministry of External Affairs said it may be about two years for India to receive the first consignment of uranium from Australia since the commercial negotiations between the companies supplying and buying uranium will now be formalized.
Australia has about a third of the world’s recoverable uranium resources and exports nearly 7,000 tons of it a year. PM Abbott had to face strong political resistance in Australia before coming to sign the deal. Modi and Abbott have decided to enhance their political dialogue and increase security and Defence cooperation. Noting that there has been no prime ministerial visit from India since 1986, Modi said he has accepted Abbott’s invitation to pay a bilateral visit to Australia after the G-20 Summit. “We will try and meet each other at every available opportunity. We will increase our dialogue at senior official level, including in the political, economic and security areas,” Modi said.